Middlemarch by George Eliot

We are excited to say that Middlemarch, by George Eliot (aka Mary Ann Evans) is no longer in our TBR stack!!! Kate and Sheila both agree this was the hardest book they’ve read. Eliot uses a narrative technique known as Breaking the Fourth Wall, in which the narrator  intrusively addresses the audience directly, offering the reader personal commentary and insights that go beyond the characters’ perspectives. 

Some Middlemarchers you will love and some are beyond cringeworthy. Dorothea Brooke shows us how to walk out Jesus’ messages about loving others in an unforgettable way! Sadly, Edward Casaubon, the man she married, shows himself to be uncaring, selfish, and vindictive.

Opposites do attract, but often it’s not a pretty picture!

With a plethora of colorful characters, the story is well-worth the effort! Many lessons were learned. Many surprises occur along the way showing the growth of some folks and the stagnation of others! Middlemarch is a tomb weighing in with 785 pages, but it is bildungsroman at its best, making it an enlightening read!

Kate’s one word summary was interconnectedness. We need others to be our best self. The goodness of some characters lead to a change in some of the undesirables. We reap what we sow, is usually used to say bad deeds have bad results, but the opposite it also true. We see this play out when the heroine does the right thing; her actions not only bless those around her, but also bless her as well (and us too : ).

Sheila chose integrity to sum up the book. It is an excellent illustration of the saying, “Stories stick and facts fade”, the goodness of Dorothea paints readers a powerful picture that inspires us to do the next right thing.

CAUTION: Spoilers included after the 45 minute mark. How grateful we are for you joining us on our journey of connecting and reflecting! 

Steep that tea dear listeners as we meet the many who walked, worked, wondered, and wavered in a place called Middlemarch!